Optimizing Land Management: A GIS-Based Model for Sustainable Agricultural Machinery Operation in Frakulla Administrative Unit, Albania

Abstract

In the Frakulla Administrative Unit, Albania, fragmented landholdings and diverse topography constrain efficient agricultural machinery deployment, increasing operational costs and soil degradation risks. This study developed a GIS-based land suitability model to identify optimal zones for sustainable machinery operation using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) and specifically the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Five biophysical criteria slope, soil texture, soil depth, elevation, and distance to roads were standardized, weighted via AHP, and integrated through raster calculator in QGIS at 30-m resolution, after excluding non-agricultural areas (built-up zones, forests, water bodies) through Boolean constraints. The model classified 21.1% of Frakulla's agricultural land as highly suitable, 35.9% as moderately suitable and 10.6% as marginally suitable for machinery operations, with the remaining 33.4% restricted. By spatially delineating machinery compatible zones, this research advances methodological rigor in combining AHP-weighted criteria with GIS raster-based techniques for mechanization planning in fragmented agricultural landscapes. The resulting suitability map provides actionable intelligence for farmers and planners to allocate machinery strategically, thereby reducing fuel consumption and compaction, preserving soil structure and enhancing long-term productivity and environmental sustainability in the region.